Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Sep 04 : The Governor administration has directed heads of all the departments to review the government and the central schemes on regular basis.
Official sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that the government on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has asked all the HODs to review regularly the important government and centrally sponsored schemes, developmental works and other related matters of their departments. “They have been directed to submit a status report to the higher ups interalia highlighting the issues which require intervention for timely completion of the projects,” sources said.
Earlier government in one of the circulars had said, “All the administrative departments shall provide the details of allocation under different centrally sponsored schemes to the Finance Department. They shall also share with the Finance department the pending proposals/claims with concerned Union ministry, if any, during the currency of the current financial year to facilitate follow up action, if required, by the Finance Department.”
The Finance Department had also taken a serious note over “lackadaisical” approach of authorities of various departments in implementing the schemes.
A committee was framed headed by Joint Director Budget to “track submission of utilisation certificates by the departments for centrally sponsored schemes.
The committee was tasked to “monitor utilised and unutilised funds and submit fortnightly consolidated summary reports. Investigate financial irregularities referred to it”.
“Endeavour to improve efficiencies in the existing expenditure classification system including focus on capital expenditure. Strive to improve operational efficiency of expenditures through focus on utilisation targets and outcome. Move towards achieving reduction in financial costs through better cash management system,”
An official of Finance Department said that government had also taken a strong note that many developmental works have got affected over the years for non-utilisation of funds. “It had been seen most of the departments were failing to spend budget allocation funds in the first quarter of the year and then they were also not able to utilize these funds in the last quarter of the year due to weather conditions and other reasons.,” the official said.(KINS)
